My Punjabi film is subtle like ‘Chupke Chupke’: Dharmendra

Dharmendra, 78, says it was his long desire to do a lead role in Punjabi film as he did many guest appearances in the past.

Dharmendra, who is known for his tough guy image in the industry, says comedy is a difficult genre.

Yesteryear star Dharmendra, who is making his full-fledged acting debut in Punjabi film ‘Double Di Trouble’, says the comedy in the film is subtle and situational like his hit 1975 movie ‘Chupke Chupke’.

‘Double Di Trouble’, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play ‘The Comedy Of Errors’, will see him sharing the screen space with Punjabi singer-actor Gippy Grewal. Both the actors play double roles in the film, which releases on August 29.

Dharmendra, 78, says it was his long desire to do a lead role in Punjabi film as he did many guest appearances in the past.

“I was looking for a good script in Punjabi film and when I got this film, which is based on one of my favourite Shakespeare’s funny play, I readily agreed to be a part of it. Comedy is my favourite genre and ‘Double Di Trouble’ is subtle and situational like ‘Chupke Chupke’,” Dharmendra told reporters here.

Dharmendra proved himself as a comic actor with the Hrishikesh Mukjerjee’s ‘Chupke Chupke’, which also starred Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore among others.

Dharmendra, who is known for his tough guy image in the industry, says comedy is a difficult genre.

“It’s tough to make people laugh. You can make people emotional easily but you can’t make them laugh that easily. Though action role suited my body best but I always enjoyed doing comedy films,” said the ‘Sholay’ star.

After having such a long career in Bollywood, Dharmendra says he sees no harm in doing Punjabi films if he relates to the script.
“Like Bollywood, the viewership of Punjabi films has also opened up. Punjabis have reached all over the world be it Toronto, Vancouver or Australia. ‘Double Di Trouble’ is a good film and is made on a budget of a Hindi film. I hope more Bollywood actors do Punjabi films,” he said.

Presented by Subhash Ghai’s Mukta Arts, the film is directed by Smeep Kang. The film also stars Minisha Lamba, Poonam Dhillon and Kulraj of ‘Jat Yamla Pagla Deewana’ fame.

Gippy, who is playing his son in the film, says he was a huge fan of the Punjab-born superstar.
“I think I am his biggest fan. I watched Sholay 200 times on VCR out of which 50 times it was on silent mode because there were some problem in the VCR. It was a great learning experience for me to work with him. He also taught me how to become a good human being first,” he said.